Six airlines owe Rs. 27.6 b in unpaid embarkation levy: Deputy Minister

Wednesday, 23 July 2025 00:08 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Janitha Kodituwakku reveals SriLankan Airlines is top defaulter with staggering Rs. 24.6 b in arrears, followed by AirAsia Berhad with Rs. 88 m, Aeroflot with Rs. 508 m, Air India with Rs. 57 m, Thai AirAsia with Rs. 221 m and Fits Aviation with Rs. 2.1 b
Says CAA has sent notices via letters and emails; partial recovery made through bank guarantees
Asserts no current legal provisions to enforce recovery of dues
Discloses Govt. to present Cabinet paper seeking approval for legal action

Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Janith Ruwan Kodituwakku

Ports and Civil Aviation Deputy Minister Janitha Ruwan Kodithuwakku yesterday revealed in Parliament that six airlines have defaulted on embarkation levy payments totalling Rs. 27.6 billion to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Addressing the House in response to a question raised by the Main Opposition party, Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) MP Kins Nelson.

Kodithuwakku disclosed that the national carrier SriLankan Airlines accounts for Rs. 24.6 billion of the total, whilst the remaining defaulters are AirAsia Berhad with Rs. 88 million, Aeroflot Russia Rs. 508 million, Air India Rs. 57 million, Thai Air Asia Rs. 221 million and Fits Aviation Rs. 2,126 million.

The Deputy Minister also noted that the CAA has taken administrative measures to recover the dues, including informing the airlines via official letters and emails, there are currently no legal provisions enabling the Authority to enforce collection of the outstanding levies.

“Some recoveries have been made through liquidation of the airlines’ bank guarantees,” Kodithuwakku said, adding that the Government is preparing to present a Cabinet paper seeking approval to pursue legal action against the defaulting airlines.

The embarkation levy, a fee charged from departing passengers and remitted by airlines to the CAA, is a key revenue stream for the country’s aviation sector.

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